Apparatus for galvanizing and coating wire



(No Model.)

B. A. GRANT. APPARATUS PoR GALVANIZING AND Go'ATmG WIRE.

Patented Apr. 15, 1884 N4 PErEns, Puma-manina wammgton. D4 C.

llnrrno Simfree @artnr @risica BELVILLE A. GRANT, OF LOC-KPOR-T, lllilOlS.

APPARATUS FOR GALVANlZlNG AND COATING WIRE.

PECPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,72, dated April l5, 1384.

Application filed October 29,1883. (No model.)

To mit whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, BELVILLEA. GRANT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Lockport, in the county of W'ill and State oi' Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Galvanizing and Coating Wire, of which the following is a specific-ation, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a side elevation, having a portion of the furnace and vat broken away to view the interior, and Fig. 2,v a plan vienY on the top.

This invention relates to 'certain improvements in an apparatus for galvanizing or coating Wire, either with zinc or other materia-l; and the improvements consist, principally, in the means employed for passing the Wire through the molten zinc or other material, Which l `vill fully explain inthe following specication and claims.

Referring to the drawings, A. represents anoval-shaped brick furnace,within which stands a similar-shaped vat, T, for holding the molten zinc. 'A space is left all around between the said furnace and vat for the fuel, which, for this purpose, is usually coke. The vat T eon' tains a pair of drums, R and R', on the lower ends of the vertical shafts S and S', to which they are firmly keyed or fastened. These drums R and R have their peripheries provided with a series of annular grooves, in

- which the Wire w travels. The vertical shafts S and S are properly boxed in the frame c' and c', in which they rotate by means of the pinions o: and a, iirrnly keyed thereto, and driven by the spunpinion o2, located between them from the bevel-gear e3 and at, ai being integral With spur-pinion a?. .The bevel-pinion of is keyed to shaft S, which rotates in the boxes B and B', attached to beam o. A fast and loose pulley, D and D', is attached to one end of said shaft, to the fast pulleyD of which the poWeris applied to drive the drumsR and Ri, While the other end of said shaft S is provided with the pulley E, which is for the purposeof operating a spool or reel to take up the Wire w after it leaves the vat, and not necessary to he shown. The frame c and c supports all the Working parts ofthe device, and

is arranged to slide up and down between the ports D D3, which guide it, and the Weight of which frame and all its attachments is nearly counterbalanced bycordsand n-'eiglits,asshown in Fig. l, to render it easy to elevate and lower the said frame c c with its attachments.

l?, l, o, and o are sheave-whecls, supported by proper hangers from the frame c', which pulleys or sheavewheels are for the purpose of conducting the Wire in and out of the vat, as shown. The inner sides of the vat T are provided with vertical flanges or ribs F F, for the purpose of preventing the molten metal M from rotating with the drums.

H is a hopper for holding sand, and so ranged that the wire w passes up through its bottom and up through the sand to clean it and free it from too much coating.

The manner of operating the device is as follows: The wire w to be galvanized or coated is caused to enter the vat T in the direction of the arrow, passing over sheave P; thence over sheave P; thence around both of the drums R and It in their annular grooves, as shown in Fig. l; thence over sheaves o and o', out ofthe vat, ott to a spoolor rcel, (not neccssaryto be shown, but to be operated by the pulleyE to take up the wire as fast as it passes oil' the drums.) The grooves in the drums prevent the Wire, on' its journey through the vat, from coming in contact with itself and sust-ain ing it, so it will not all fall off the drums, and holds it apart, so it can be thoroughly galvanized. The drums are not intended to come in Contact with the interior of the vat, but are intended to be entirely submerged in the molten galvanizing or coating material, as shown in Fig. l. When power is applied to the bandwheel D, as stated, and rotary motion is given to the drums R and R', they draw the Wire w into and propel Athe Wire through the molten metal until it nnally has passed a -long distance through the molten metal and emerges up through the sand-hopper H, over sheave o, and out to the takenp, which takes it as fast as the drums deliver it through the vat.

It has been usual heretofore, in order to so galvanize or coat the Wire, to simply dranr the Wire once through the molten metal, in consequence of which the Wire did not stay a suf- IOO cientA length of time in it to become thoroughly coated, While by this device the Wire is caused to travel a very long distance back and forth, and from the top to the bottom, and then from the bottom to the top of the molten metal, which gives the Wire the benefit of passing through all degrees of temperature of metal,

and also tends, by the movement of the wire and the rotation ofthe drums, to keep the metal evenlyheated, so as to perform. the best results.

This device may be used as Well to paint the Wire as to galvanize it with zinc. In that case of course the heat would be dispensed with, and the vat filled with paint. The Wire can be caused to travel a greater or less distance through the vat by simply diminishing or augmenting the number of its coils around the drums. Fig. l represents the greatest amount of Wire that can be at one time in the vat as it passes around the drums in each groove, which are so arranged as to alternate with each other with relation to each drum, so it is practicable to conduct the Wire from the top to the bottom of the drums, as shown.

The object of arranging the drums R and R so they can be elevated out of the vat is to render it easy to place the wire on, as shown, While the drums are out of the molten met-al, and also to avoid leaving the drums and Wire in the vat and molten metal when the metal is permitted to become cool or during stoppage of the machinery.

By this process and by means of this device 4 a much better result can be obtained than by may stand in any position in the vat that is practicable. The other smaller sheave-wheels for conducting the vvire to and from the drums may be substituted by shoes, if desired, and the sand may be substituted by any material that will answer the purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim asgneW, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows, to Wit:

l. The combination of the furnace A, vat T, having the vertical proj ectingribs or flanges F F, vertical grooved drums R and R, shafts S and S, sliding frame c c', ports D2 and D3, pinions a a a2, sheaves P and P', o and o, bevel-gear as andat, shaft S, and pulleys D and E, all adapted to operate as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a 'wire galvanizing apparatus, the grooved drums R and R', and the means Whereby said drums are rotated Within the vat T in the molten galvanizing metal M, to propel the Wire lw through the galvanizing material, in combination with the vat T, substantiallyas set forth.

3. The combination of the Vat T, having the vertical ribs or flanges F, grooved drums R and R, shafts S and S', sliding frame c c', ports D2 D3, pinions a a a2, and sheaves P, P', o and o', as and for the purpose 'set forth.

4. In a Wire-galvanizing apparatus, the combination of the vat T, vertical grooved rollers or drums R and It', adapted to rotate Within the vat T, and the means described for rotating and holding said drums in a vertical position, as and for the purpose set forth.

BELVILLE A.' GRANT.

Vitnesses:

THos. H. HUrcHrNs, WM. J. HUTcHINs. 

